"From a Rangers point of view - and looking at it selfishly - it would be fantastic to see our club in a British Premier League," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"I believe Rangers and Celtic are in the top five clubs in Britain and, given time - and I'm talking five, six or seven years rather than 20 - the Old Firm would compete.

"If you look at what Rangers and Celtic have spent in the last 18 months, it would be only what Manchester United spent on one player - Dimitar Berbatov.

"We get only £2.5million a year in TV money, while the club who finish bottom of the Premier League in England receive £38m with parachute payments. Imagine what Rangers and Celtic could do with that amount of TV money.

"We would bring to the Premier League fantastic stadiums, wonderful fan-bases and huge potential.

"I know fans of clubs like Motherwell and Dundee United would not be happy but the Old Firm need to move to another level.

"This is not an attack on Scottish football but ask Rangers and Celtic fans what they think and I know what the answer would be."